Lee, NH (June 8, 2009) – – Before there was stardom and 13 wins on the
NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, the biggest win of his successful career, the
2008 Daytona 500, and before becoming one of only 19 drivers to have
recorded at least one win in each of NASCAR's top three Series – Sprint Cup,
Nationwide and Truck , Ryan Newman was a grass roots racer. An open-wheel
driver with a passion to win. The "Rocketman" as he's known, did, many
times.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Newman will try to capitalize on that experience in open wheel racing when
he pilots the the #39 NEMA Midget "Hot Pepper Promotions" sponsored car on
Friday, June 26, 2009 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, New Hampshire. The car is
owned and prepared by Bertrand Motorsports.<\/p>\n
A racer since he was four-and-one-half years old, Newman later saw success
in midget and sprint car competition under the United States Auto Club
banner.<\/p>\n
The South Bend, Indiana., racer is a former "Night Before The 500" winner, a
traditional race held prior to the Indianapolis 500, and is the only driver
to have won USAC National rookie honors for Midget-Sprint-and Silver Crown
competition. He has competed in 170 races under the USAC sanction with 17
wins, 60 top five finishes, and 96 top 10 finishes.<\/p>\n
Newman will compete against some of the very best midget drivers in the
Northeast under the Northeastern Midget Association sanction. Randy Cabral,
Russ Stoehr, many time champion Nokie Fornoro, 34 year veteran Doug
Cleveland, and young hot shoe Jeff Abold, lead the list of early entries.<\/p>\n